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We get it: you may not be in the market yet for a job. Maybe you already have a job. Or maybe you’re still in college, and you’re focused on your studies. So the last thing you think of is making sure your resume is prepared. In a way, you might even hope your resume will prepare itself somehow.

Your Resume Has to Be Excellently Crafted, Not Just “Written Down”

Your resume is a selling tool – Simply a list of your skills and job duties. It’s a profile of your entire professional career from the ground up – not simple paragraphs or bullets stating what you want in a job, what you’ve done before, and/or the degree or certificate stating that you’re qualified. Your resume is your future, not your past.

Still, there’s the always-present question: why do people always seem to “wait until the last minute” to get their documents prepared when that job opportunity does present itself?

A Resume Is Not an “Application”

We’ve all done it before: we walk into a store or establishment, and they have their readymade applications with all the lines. You fill it out with everything:

Contact Information

Education

Work History

It’s fairly cut and dry, easy, clean, mechanical. Those employers look for the basic information, clear-cut references that show you are indeed a normal human being and not an automaton.

You can actually fill out these applications in minutes if necessary. As long as you have all the information memorized or readily available, filling out an application is a snap!

But a resume is not an “application.” A resume rolls all that information up and packages it with the statement that you’re not only “qualified” but also esteemed in your field. You’re at the top of the list.

You better be, given many employers receive anywhere between 50 to 100 “applications” (or even more) every month. Sometimes it’s nothing more than a crapshoot when these employers pick out possible candidates based off the applications.

But when you’re dealing with resumes, it’s a competition. And you have to stand out.

You Won’t Stand Out, If You’re Scrambling to Get Your Resume Ready at the Last Minute!

A sharp resume doesn’t pour out of your word processor, for sure. We here at Vertical Media Solutions won’t produce a quality resume overnight either. We focus on superior quality to achieve satisfaction.

It takes research, development, and poignant creativity. That’s why resume writing is a detailed craft. In a way, it’s almost an art form.

Think about it: top-notch employers offering the best jobs will simply glean over the cookie-cutter copied documents, the ones that look so similar with all the trite and overused language they’re so used to seeing –

“Objectives”

“References”

“Fast Learner”

“Motivated”

There are a million other keywords. Every run-of-the-mill resume has them. How would an employer find the very best candidate?

The resumes that clearly show value, of course. And the ones that stand out take intense preparation.

Prepare Yourself Ahead of Time

We’re heading up to a new year. New opportunities will become available – whether you’re currently in a job and looking for an update to transition toward a higher pay and benefits, or you’re still in college waiting to finish your degree. It doesn’t matter:

You want to be prepared for when opportunity shows up. Because if you’re not, the most prepared candidate won’t be you. It will be someone else.

Don’t kick yourself, instead contact the professionals at Vertical Media Solutions at 616-631-4300. Be sure to check us out at http://vmsolu.com as well. Get prepared.

We’ve seen it for generations and generations inside the classroom and even in the household, the old adage stating that more than one page for a resume is a cardinal sin. Less is more. More is evil.

Well, times change….

You and Your Resume Must Change as Well

The job market isn’t a static entity. Trends occur. And in all honesty, this particular trend is simply based on a myth that’s been followed for decades: the idea that your resume has to be no more than a page long.

Not so. It’s the other way around: more is, well, better!

A “Tighter” Resume Does, Make Sense

Don’t get me wrong, though. The concept of making your resume ‘shorter’ is founded by natural and understandable principles. The fear is this: that your resume ends up being so long that hiring managers get really bored reading it!

It’s common sense, numbers, statistics here. It’s easier reading a batch of 1-page resumes than it is reading a batch of 2- to 3-page resumes. Time management is obviously crucial here, so chances are the hiring managers will try to breeze over the novel-length resumes and focus on the 1-pagers more often.

Still, here’s the bottom line:

It’s the Most Prepared Candidate That Will Land the Job

Prior wisdom would state that it’s the most “qualified.” That, unfortunately, isn’t always the case. Plenty of top-of-the-line candidates miss out on the jobs, because the higher-ups don’t see the value. Why? Because that value isn’t communicated correctly in the resume!

More importantly, though, when you think about it, you’re “selling yourself” with your resume. So why not go the extra mile? Don’t be afraid of going past one page on your resume.

And here’s how:

Sell That Hiring Manager on the First Page of Your Resume

That way, the rest of your content is just gravy to pour on! The more experience, the better – but you’re also targeting your best quality and experience right on the first page.

Put it this way – if you had a 2-page resume and a 1-page resume, and both first pages had equally impressive content, which resume may you probably lean toward? You wouldn’t know unless you read the rest of that 2-pager, right?

So you read the rest, and you find that the candidate has even more experience than the other candidate. Well, then I guess the decision’s obvious! In this case, the more ended up being better.

Maybe You Don’t Have a Lot of Content on Your Resume….

Understandable. So thinking you need to fill in more of the white space may be wise, but let’s face it: hiring managers can smell the tricks and tactics, and they don’t fall for it.

The concept is to glean from the work experience, that you possess all the transferable skills, and list them with details on how those accomplishments will benefit the company.

Once you’re done writing it all out on your resume, chances are you’ll probably be into the second page anyway!

The first thing people see usually will be the dealmaker or breaker of any prospective product or service, hands down. Think about it. Peruse through the shelves of a bookstore and know that 99 times out of 100 you’ll buy a book based off what you see on the cover – and you won’t even have to know what the book is about (or even care about who the author is).

Why is that? We’re visual creatures. We make our decisions based on what we see initially.

So What Does That Tell You About the Job Market?

First impressions are crucial. I’d dare to say that they’re paramount, meaning if you don’t have the first impression down pat, it doesn’t matter how much experience you have, how decorated your resume really is, or how many connections you have.

If the employer ends up not liking you somehow, you’re out of the running, plain and simple.

Because, again, people often make their decisions by what they initially see.

The Importance of the Cover Letter

That makes the “cover letter” probably the most important document you can present for a job opening and interview. It’s the lead-in to getting an employer interested in you. It’s your main selling piece. The resume simply seals the deal already designed by your cover letter.

That’s why you see Vertical Media Solutions offering just the cover letter as part of their portfolio of valuable products.

Maybe you already have a well-written resume: good for you! But that cover letter can be a stretch…. It’s a creative document, basically. It’s a creative selling piece. Sometimes those are hard to craft.

You won’t find a list of dates, a list of employers, or a list of schools you’ve attended. It’s not an outline. While a resume expertly lists every feature of your work experience neatly for the employer to read, a cover letter details the benefits offered if hired.

How can an employer resist? It’s the cover letter that encourages an employer to even want to read that resume. So, in a nutshell, you have to make sure it’s as professionally polished as possible.

The Challenge

As I already mentioned: those cover letters can be hard to craft. But with Vertical Media Solutions there to guide you, no cover letter is beyond your reach

We need a little bit of a “pay it forward” mentality in this job-seeking arena. Demand can sometimes be high. But the supply? Competitive! Employers aren’t simply looking for candidates to fill a position….

They’re Looking For Value

They’re looking for dependability. They’re not just looking for someone who can do the job; they’re looking for someone who can do it well, better than the rest.

Why? Jobs are precious and job openings are few these days! If employers are going to hire, they’re going to want to see a clear and sure bet in a candidate’s cover letter and resume, presenting true value. Period.

So it’s no surprise that there’s a lot of competition out there. In fact, the more candidates, the more difficult the choice. Employers will be very specific about who they hire. That makes the all-important cover letter and resume even more crucial. And you know what?

You May Have Already Nailed It With a Resume Project From Vertical Media Solutions

You know the value there. We know the job market. We know what employers look for.

That’s why you hired us. And the value’s still there, pushing you to the top of the market and making it known that you’re a hot commodity in your specialized industry. In a nutshell, your resume project is the “gift that keeps on giving”!

Again, though, this doesn’t change the competitiveness of the job market. People out there are still fighting for a chance to be seen by the next big employer. And chances these days are far too slim – unless they’ve got the advantage in a well-crafted cover letter and resume!

That’s Why You Can Pay It Forward Today

With Vertical Media Solutions, you can make it happen for someone. I am sure you know someone – a family member, a friend, or even a laid-off coworker – in need of services to, in simple words, get them up on the horse.

When a loved one loses his or her job, it almost makes you feel like you’ve lost your own job. Consider what happens when your dad walks in the house, looking terrible. Why does he look terrible? He just found out he’s now out of work.

It’s a sad time. And the competitive job market doesn’t make it any easier.

But you can help to change that now.

The Pay It Forward Reward

Vertical Media Solutions is going to make a big difference this holiday season. We know how important it is to spread the word – to let all know that everyone still has value, that everybody can still get a job out there.

So maybe you’ve purchased a resume project from us, and it’s revolutionized your credentials to the point where any employer can’t turn away: do you know someone else who needs help?

A loved one? Maybe your spouse?

I mentioned a “gift that keeps on giving.” Well, I tell you, the next best thing on Christmas to getting that new job (which, let’s be honest here, would be one of the best Christmas presents in the world) is getting an updated cover letter and resume designed to land that new job to take care of the family, put food on the table, pay the bills, take family vacations.

So give the gift that keeps on giving. Purchase a Pay It Forward Reward for a loved one who needs to believe that there’s an advantage out there when looking for a job.

What is the Pay It Forward Reward? It’s essentially a “gift certificate.” You’re giving someone else a chance to receive the reward you are fortunate to own in a dynamite cover letter and custom resume crafted by the professionals at Vertical Media Solutions.

Simply say…. “Pay It Forward” when you speak with us. Lend a hand and help. We’ll do the rest. The person you’re rewarding by paying it forward can contact us at any time with their Reward. It will have a special code and referral directing us to the original purchase details, and we can go right to work.

That’s Our Promise. That’s Our Code of Conduct.

We here at Vertical Media Solutions are in the business of helping the job seeker rise to the top of the employment market. We want to help as many people find their dream job with the tremendous resource of an expertly written cover letter and resume.

There’s not one professional out there who doesn’t need one. In this job market, it’s crucial.

So start today. Give us a call again – and give the gift that keeps on giving! Together let’s help a loved one achieve what you have achieved with the help of an expertly crafted cover letter and resume: the dream job of a lifetime.

To learn more about our Pay-It-Forward Reward, contact our office: 616-631-4300 or 517-308-0800

Business is expanding as experienced professional resume writer Valerie Nyberg for Vertical Media Solutions has advanced to Senior Project Manager, propelling the company to take on more projects per month.

November 9, 2012 – Expect Michigan’s highest rated professional resume writing and interview preparation service, Vertical Media Solutions, to increase scope of work with this new development. This will mean new opportunities for job seekers looking to update their own content professionally and revitalize their purpose in the economy. In addition, this is now an increased advantage to up-and-coming candidates fresh out of college or still in college, as the service of professional cover letter and resume development will be more readily available.

Vertical Media Solutions, based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, is much more than a cover letter and resume writing service. They also design and create curriculum vitaes, social media development, and provide interview preparation.

Expanding services typically takes on the form of personnel growth to handle more projects, which is why the lead senior resume writer of the company is taking over the project management position and focusing more on specific projects, editing and final reviews. This will not only deliver experience and quality, but expedience and quantity to the table, which fosters market share growth.

Valerie Nyberg has been with Vertical Media Solutions for three years now, serving as the cornerstone for cover letter and resume crafting and preparation. She specializes in accomplishment-driven content development: what sells a resume, what doesn’t sell a resume and keyword utilization. Demand has occurred to the point where she can advance her role to a management position to ensure creativity and retain consistent superior quality for each candidate project.

College students are aggressively pursuing portfolio development, resumes, cover letters, mission statements and other documents to ensure the best opportunities before graduation. So it’s no surprise that Vertical Media Solutions aims to focus on this demographic as well as the rest of the industry spectrum.

With the facilitation of Valerie Nyberg at the head of this new directive, the job market can expect an increase in top-notch candidate profiles, for critical positions that need to be filled.

For more information about what Vertical Media Solutions has to offer, view their web site at http://www.vmsolu.com.

How about LinkedIn? The sky’s the limit these days with the advent of technology and cyberspace. In the dark ages, it was nice to walk into a company with your snazzy cover letter and resume in hand, and that was it.

Check out the present: it’s about competition, virility, and how to generate the most visibility for your cover letter and resume. You have many options to choose from, make the most out of them all.

This Is a Big Reason Why You Could Utilize a Little Something Called “LinkedIn”

Sure, you know what LinkedIn is. But dig deeper here. Yes, it’s a “social media platform,” but it’s so much more. All it takes is learning about what it can do for you and your expertly crafted cover letter and resume: that’s why I’m here, to educate.

You’ll notice that LinkedIn, to some respect, is an adult version of Facebook. You don’t just need it to find a job here and there. It’s a way to establish corporate connections and produce increased visibility.

What does that mean? So you’ve got your resume…. Now what? Where do you find the jobs? How do you find the jobs? How do the jobs find you?

You use LinkedIn. And that’s just one of the resources available to put your cover letter and resume, out there to market yourself as a brand for successful and professional employment.

How Does LinkedIn Benefit A Candidate?

Here’s the simple key to it all: it’s a social media platform. You’re not just putting your cover letter, resume, or curriculum vitae online through your LinkedIn profile; you’re providing crucial background information to every, and any, company out there looking to fill that critical position.

You’re marketing yourself.

You do that by distributing your successful history, gaining recommendations, endorsing others and then getting endorsed yourself for the skills you possess. It becomes an asset typically used to add depth to your cover letter, application, or even the resume.

People can search for more about what you represent, and they can also keep tabs on you through a blog feed you’ve implemented on your profile.

It’s an interview tool. Prospective employers may ask about your social media presence? Mention “LinkedIn,” and you’ve scored a major touchdown.

Know your profile URL, network with it, and spread it to the four corners of the earth. Your cover letter and resume brought you through the door; now sell yourself with all your resources, one of them being LinkedIn.

Do a search on LinkedIn, and you’ll find there are diverse groups tailored to fields, industries, types of professionals, and then become active in those groups. The more you network, the more corporate hiring managers end up seeing your cover letter and resume. The more visibility you achieve, the more likely one of them may ask you for a copy of your resume or even invite you for an interview.

It’s worth it.

Your Professional Resume Deserves to Be Seen!

Career sites like CareerMatrix know this mantra. You find the jobs; now market your qualifications on something like LinkedIn. At very least, you will be more in tune with market trends and make a new contact or two. And the best part? It’s not the only resource out there.

There’s a wealth of opportunities available that aren’t even posted on the job boards. Learn how to market yourself as the professional you know you are.

Want to know more? Tap into knowledge and experience of Michigan’s highest rated professional resume writing firm. At Vertical Media Solutions, we put our heads together to get your foot in the door

We’ve all heard the complaints: the job market is impossible, none of the 50 jobs I applied for online returned a response, I can’t seem to land an interview. There is no doubt that it is tough to land a job out there right now, but that fact can’t be used to automatically eliminate yourself from the competition. Instead, focus on answering the question, what skills do I bring to the workplace?

You must be familiar with the set of skills you are selling. If not, you are among the hundred-some other applicants who also applied for that perfect job you were hoping to get. Today, there are many fields to get into, with many specializations in each. Choosing a niche to focus on and becoming great at it will add that extra “oomph” needed to make you stand out among the rest in your field.

Start brainstorming your specialty. Are you a salesperson with a record for outselling your coworkers? Are you a computer programming specialist efficient in HTML coding? Having extra strength in your field will make you more marketable and employable. Employers are looking for “value” in every new hire – show them what your bring to the table.

Acquiring a skill helps brand you as an employment seeker. However, it is no use to have a skill if it’s not being showcased to enhance your strengths. Make your skill known – promote it! With social media being so prevalent in today’s society, it is easy to advertise your work online. Getting your name out there means more credibility, and a greater chance of being sought after.

Yes, there is no doubt the economy makes obtaining a job difficult, but having the right strategy can help you along, and skill is among the most important. Skill sits high as one of the top qualities an employer looks for, and the good news is that anyone has the ability to learn one. Remember: the more specialized you are, the more qualified you are!

It’s easy to blame the economy when your job search isn’t going as planned. Instead of automatically running to this excuse, first take a look at this list of the biggest mistakes that job seekers make – maybe the reason your luck seems to be running low lies in one of them.

#1 – Not Having a Top-Notch Resume

The internet has made it possible to submit a job application within seconds. This new technology has increased application volume. In turn, an overwhelming heap of resumes land on a company’s recruitment desk every day. The more resumes, the less likely it is that yours is being read thoroughly. Make sure your resume is fool-proof and includes attention-grabbing words. Provide the hiring manager with a reason to notice your application among the many others.

#2 – Poor (or no) Networking

Approximately 60% of all jobs are found through a networking referral. Imagine that 200 people apply for the same job. The person who has an influential referral in the business will most likely land an interview over the applicant who sent their resume in through an online search engine. Networking is key to getting your foot through the door.

#3 – Failure to Follow Up

Hiring managers appreciate those who take the time to follow up after an interview. This shows that the applicant is taking the opportunity seriously, and also displays proper work initiative. In the business setting, it is crucial to follow up with clients. Following up after an interview shows that you possess this quality. Thank the employer for the opportunity they have given you to interview with their company. Be sincere, and feel free to be creative: try sending a note in the mail. Employers are blasted daily with emails and phone calls – stand out among the crowd by putting a little extra time and thought into your thank you.

Keeping these three points in mind can greatly increase your chances of landing a job, as well as make you memorable among recruiters and employers. Always remember to have a solid resume, use your networking skills, and follow up!

It is said that 93% of communication is done non-verbally. Such a large percentage deserves some attention! Being aware of the nonverbal signals you put off has the potential to help your interview. Here are some pointers about your nonverbal communication during an interview:

- Make eye contact! When someone makes too little eye contact, we feel it is hard to connect with them, that they are suspicious, and that they may even be hiding something. On the contrary, making too much eye contact can make communicating uncomfortable. Be sure to look your interviewer in the eye every few seconds for a good balance.

- Don’t slouch! Be sure that you have appropriate posture. Slouching will imply that you are not interested in what the interviewer is saying and that you are not taking the interview seriously. Sit straight and try leaning in slightly – this will imply that you are engaged and interested in what is being said.

- Smile and nod to create a positive vibe. Smile only at appropriate times, and never laugh unless your interviewer laughs first. Nodding will let them know you are following along with what they are saying and are engaged in the conversation.

- Have a solid handshake! This is such an important part of an interview. Your handshake says a lot about you and creates the first peek into your level of assertiveness and leadership. Have a firm handshake – not too hard, as having too firm of a handshake can make you come across as dominant and overbearing. Avoid a limp handshake also, as this signals low confidence and self-esteem. Be confident and confortable with your handshake, applying the correct amount of pressure.

- Dress well! First impressions really do count. Make sure you look professional and keep accessories to a minimum, as too much can looked cluttered and be a distraction. Dress as if you are already working in the organization – this will make you easier for the interviewer to imagine you as a fit for their company.

Remember these tips next time you prepare for an interview. Having good nonverbal communication creates a positive environment and allows interaction to come at ease.